Welcome to KTL’s Neurotransmitter Playlist.
Dirty Soup’s creative neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis looks at the four brain chemicals affecting happiness and recommends music to help ease us back into the real world.
KTL - Due to the negative impact of stress caused by lockdown isolation and global uncertainty, the four primary chemicals in the brain that affect happiness - dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins - are running low. However science shows us that music can actively help boost these vital brain chemicals as we re-emerge into the world.
Today, let’s get up close and personal with oxytocin.
Oxytocin, the ‘hug hormone’ or ‘love drug’’, is a neurotransmitter associated with empathy, trust, love, and generally feeling and being social.
Triggered by hugs and human contact, we are a little low in this right now, which is adding to our feeling of being disconnected and increasing our social anxiety.
Studies have shown that listening to music with a tempo of around 55-60bpm can lower your heart rate and produce a corresponding surge in oxytocin as you relax. Oh yes, also, oxytocin levels genuinely increase more if you sing along, so don’t be shy!
Listen to the full playlist below and find out more about Katherine HERE.